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Article THE PRINCIPLES OF FREE MASONRY EXPLAINED. ← Page 3 of 9 →
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The Principles Of Free Masonry Explained.
' There is no need for any proofs to shew , that benevolence in those around us is the foundation of our love for them , and malice of the hatred which they excite in our breasts . H charmed are we with the character of a man who has the Avelfare of his feffoAv-creatures at heart , and improves every opportunity of advancing it I a man who rejoices in their prosperity and weeps at their distress ! who
encou-, rages their virtues' by his praises , and gently whispers the voice of admonition in their ears to cure their frailties 1 who administers relief to the unfortunate , and wards oft the stroke of slander from the innocent , or heals the wound it has in / lifted ! whose study , _ in a word , is to render all those happy that are about him , so far as his abilities will permit ! The emotions that pass in the heart of such a man , are fall of
the truest magnanimity , and afford a spectacle which God looks at with complacency and approbation . If his situation in life is ever displeasing to him , he wishes it altered , more for the sake of his fellow .-creatures than for his own , He is never vexed at his want pi riches , but when he sees the good and deserving struggling with poverty , and sunk in obscurity . The want of power gives him no uneasiness ,
but when the triumphs of oppression over probity and innocence raise his virtuous indignation . The want of splendor is grievous to him only when he beholds the children of p ride and meanness treating modest merit Avith studied petulance or neglect . The love of human kind gloAving in his bosom , makes him wish , on these occasions , that he had more wealth , more power , and Avas able to appear with
magnificence . Possessed of these , hoAv chearfully would he support the meritorious ! protect the injured ! and humble the conceited , the arrogant , and overbearing ! These are the designs which he forms in his reveries ., and wishes it were in his poAver to execute in his most solid reflections . In the imaginary exertions of humanity for the benefit of others , he sv / eetly forgets all his own necessities , and is transported with the ilia-
sion of having the power to do all that good for Avhich his heart had so often , and so sincerely panted . His fancy is charmed with the godlike employment of adjusting the conditions of men to their personal merits ; and putting an end to that inequality which seems , in this respeft , to prevail in the world . With this charactercompare that of a man who is governed by
, hardly any other princip le than the various movements of his self-love , and does not hesitate to use the most unjust means that a regard for his own safety will permit him , to gain his ends . A man of this stamp , will employ all the base arts that his cunning can suggest , to draw the wealth of his neig hbour into his OAVU coffers . lie will Jaysnares to impose on the ignorant Avho deal with him , and applaud his
own dexterity in business , when he has over-reached the skilful . He will drop hints of his neig hbours exorbitant gains , in order to blind people to his oivn extortions ; and while he assures his customers , that his own moderate way of living demands but r ( mall profits , he whispers to them , that the extravagance of those around him cannot be sup-, ported Avithout large ones . The better to cover his designs , and inake them pass unexamined in the world , he forces religion to throw M z
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Principles Of Free Masonry Explained.
' There is no need for any proofs to shew , that benevolence in those around us is the foundation of our love for them , and malice of the hatred which they excite in our breasts . H charmed are we with the character of a man who has the Avelfare of his feffoAv-creatures at heart , and improves every opportunity of advancing it I a man who rejoices in their prosperity and weeps at their distress ! who
encou-, rages their virtues' by his praises , and gently whispers the voice of admonition in their ears to cure their frailties 1 who administers relief to the unfortunate , and wards oft the stroke of slander from the innocent , or heals the wound it has in / lifted ! whose study , _ in a word , is to render all those happy that are about him , so far as his abilities will permit ! The emotions that pass in the heart of such a man , are fall of
the truest magnanimity , and afford a spectacle which God looks at with complacency and approbation . If his situation in life is ever displeasing to him , he wishes it altered , more for the sake of his fellow .-creatures than for his own , He is never vexed at his want pi riches , but when he sees the good and deserving struggling with poverty , and sunk in obscurity . The want of power gives him no uneasiness ,
but when the triumphs of oppression over probity and innocence raise his virtuous indignation . The want of splendor is grievous to him only when he beholds the children of p ride and meanness treating modest merit Avith studied petulance or neglect . The love of human kind gloAving in his bosom , makes him wish , on these occasions , that he had more wealth , more power , and Avas able to appear with
magnificence . Possessed of these , hoAv chearfully would he support the meritorious ! protect the injured ! and humble the conceited , the arrogant , and overbearing ! These are the designs which he forms in his reveries ., and wishes it were in his poAver to execute in his most solid reflections . In the imaginary exertions of humanity for the benefit of others , he sv / eetly forgets all his own necessities , and is transported with the ilia-
sion of having the power to do all that good for Avhich his heart had so often , and so sincerely panted . His fancy is charmed with the godlike employment of adjusting the conditions of men to their personal merits ; and putting an end to that inequality which seems , in this respeft , to prevail in the world . With this charactercompare that of a man who is governed by
, hardly any other princip le than the various movements of his self-love , and does not hesitate to use the most unjust means that a regard for his own safety will permit him , to gain his ends . A man of this stamp , will employ all the base arts that his cunning can suggest , to draw the wealth of his neig hbour into his OAVU coffers . lie will Jaysnares to impose on the ignorant Avho deal with him , and applaud his
own dexterity in business , when he has over-reached the skilful . He will drop hints of his neig hbours exorbitant gains , in order to blind people to his oivn extortions ; and while he assures his customers , that his own moderate way of living demands but r ( mall profits , he whispers to them , that the extravagance of those around him cannot be sup-, ported Avithout large ones . The better to cover his designs , and inake them pass unexamined in the world , he forces religion to throw M z